Now this is a practical boat...Just add parrot

I am genuinely tempted now just for comedy value. We have secured the use of a private slipway for Karen's CRUK fundraiser, I can see us slipping into ocean village for a pillage. ;)
 
solent clown said:
I am genuinely tempted now just for comedy value. We have secured the use of a private slipway for Karen's CRUK fundraiser, I can see us slipping into ocean village for a pillage. ;)
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I'm sure Seajet would go halves with you, as long as you agree to mounting a cannon on the poop deck.

It's his is very favourite design.
 
It would be exaggerating to say they were popular, but they were quite well-known in the early '70s when we were buying boats. I seem to remember having a good laugh at one at the Southhampton show. There probably isn't enough room on the stern to call her/it the Hispaniola.
 
There were a couple on the trots @ Sherry's wharf in Poole in the summer of 1978, when I had Hylje there. Being 2' longer they were bigger boats than mine and had to be loocked up to. However we used to regularly cross the channel - Cherbourg, Braye and back.

I only saw one with an occupant - being about 48" waist he had problems turning round in the cockpit - now he had a parrot on his, admittedly stuffed.
 
Ah, Buckler Ketches, you have to love them.

I do anyway, and would love to own one, but I've never found one available in my area that wasn't a wreck. [Although if you do know of one in the Solent or vicinity that is in working order, please PM!].

I believe they were built in the Hull area, and the design is meant to be Dutch inspired, perhaps thought of after a long night in an Amsterdam café that served certain substances.

I seem to recall posting something here years ago when one was on ebay and the seller stated, 'these boats have crossed the Atlantic'. I was pretty sure then that they hadn't, and I still am, but who cares when a boat is that much fun.

Indeed, this one is lying in Rye, very convenient for taking her round to Hastings Pirate Day in July.
 
I knew someone who actually owned one. For all its looks (?) he said it was the most miserable boat he had ever sailed. Painfully slow, forget going to windward (high topsides kill it), and handled like a London bus. The biggest problem though was that the steering position is exactly where the spray comes up from the bow wave - straight in to the helmsman's face, In spite of the windscreen which is in the wrong place anyway! They had one at LBS in the 70s which had been gaff rigged to special order. She looked absolutely 'right' and had a long queue to go aboard. But 'popular' at that time? No. Not even when they were new.
 
Marakei said:
Ah, Buckler Ketches, you have to love them.

I do anyway, and would love to own one, but I've never found one available in my area that wasn't a wreck. [Although if you do know of one in the Solent or vicinity that is in working order, please PM!].

I believe they were built in the Hull area, and the design is meant to be Dutch inspired, perhaps thought of after a long night in an Amsterdam café that served certain substances.

I seem to recall posting something here years ago when one was on ebay and the seller stated, 'these boats have crossed the Atlantic'. I was pretty sure then that they hadn't, and I still am, but who cares when a boat is that much fun.

Indeed, this one is lying in Rye, very convenient for taking her round to Hastings Pirate Day in July.
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There is one on a swinging mooring very near to Hardway Sailing Club, I have not seen it out, she may need a new skipper, Parrot optional :rolleyes:
 
I often like quirky designs if they're done with flair, but to my eyes this one isn't.

That said, I have seen people sailing them with a big smile on their face, so they can't be all bad.

According to Hoskins A-Z Good Yacht Guide there was a more conventional, aft cockpit version on the same hull, called a Buckler Bowie, but I'm not sure I've ever seen one.

Yachting Monthly said in 2009 the Bowie was centre-cockpit, but I suspect they muddled their words.

"Buckler

You will always be assured of attracting attention in this unusual 24ft ketch, with its galleon-style poop and clipper bow. The main living quarters are in the aftercabin, which has a separate toilet compartment, cooker, sink and two settee/berths. Forward of the deep, but exposed, centre cockpit is a twin-bunk forecabin. She was very plainly fitted out and many of the fittings were lightweight, but she was popular in her day, not least for the large after sundeck. The ketch rig is small and easily managed, but performance is not sparkling and handling is as idiosyncratic as her looks. A more conventional centre-cockpit version called the Buckler Bowie, with the main cabin forward and a Bermudian rig, sailed better.

LOA 7.21m (23ft 8in), LWL 5.23m (17ft 2in), beam 2.43m (8ft), draught 0.76m or 1.07m
(2ft 6in or 3ft 6in), displacement 1,796kg (3,960lb). Price guide: £3,000 to £6,000."
 
Marakei said:
...I seem to recall posting something here years ago when one was on ebay and the seller stated, 'these boats have crossed the Atlantic'. I was pretty sure then that they hadn't, and I still am, but who cares when a boat is that much fun.

Indeed, this one is lying in Rye...
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Lying about having crossed the Atlantic ?

Boo2
 
There is one of these at our Marina which has been repossessed by the Marina in the hope they can recover some of the outstanding mooring fees. It had been used as a liveaboard for some time. I am sure it will float as it is full of water and not a sign of leak!
 
NealB said:
I'm sure Seajet would go halves with you, as long as you agree to mounting a cannon on the poop deck.

It's his is very favourite design.
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NealB,

I'd acually beat you to it by PM to SolentClown as soon as he mentioned this apex of British naval architecture, the idea being two of them with cannon... :)
 
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